Fadnavis-led delegation to meet Modi over loan waiver issue for farmers

New Delhi: A delegation headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will on Friday be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand relief for debt-ridden farmers and loan waiver issue.

The move came following the Chief Minister's assurance in Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday in an endeavour to find a way to help farmers.

"We will discuss with the central finance and agriculture minister on this issue. We will meet them with a delegation to demand monetary help for the state to face this agricultural crisis," said Fadnavis.

Accusing the opposition of playing politics on such an important and sensitive issue, the Chief Minister said almost 16,000 farmers committed suicide in spite of the loan waiver in five years.

"The non-investment in agriculture sector for many years by previous governments has given rise to farmers' sufferings," he said.

"Farmers are paying for your sins over 15 years. You have nothing to do with farmers. But through loan waiver you want to hide scams in cooperative banks," he added.